Cheryl KelmarAuthor of The Judge's Oath(c)(TM), a memoir to call for court reform and PodCast The Judge's Oath

Does Social Media Influence the Court

29 Jul 2026 · 3 min

Watch on YouTube

2:38

In this solo episode of The Judge's Oath, host Cheryl Kelmar asks whether a massive social‑media following can sway a court’s decision. She explains that judges are bound to decide based on law, evidence, and facts, not on follower counts or online popularity. Kelmar then explores how viral content might shape public opinion, media coverage, and indirect pressure on litigants, even though it cannot replace legal proof. She shares a personal defamation and slander dispute with a local realtor whose videos have amassed 1.5 million views, contrasting it with her modest online audience, and wonders whether the sheer number of likes and views could influence a judge’s ruling. The episode ends with a call for listeners to share their experiences and thoughts on social‑media influence in the courtroom.

Chapters

Hello, welcome to my podcast, The Judge's Oath. You can, um, see my website at www.thejudgesoath.com. My podcast is the same name as my book, The Judge's Oath, which is available on Amazon. My name is Cheryl Kelmar. And today I want to ask the question of the day: Does having a million followers help win in court? What if one person has 2 followers and the other party has 2 million? Would a judge rule in favor of the person with the biggest online audience? The answer is supposed to be no. Judges are expected to make decisions based on the law, the evidence, and the facts presented in court, not on, like, views or follower counts. But here's where it gets interesting. Can massive social media popularity influence public opinion? Can it shape media coverage? Can it put pressure on the people involved in a case? Those are real questions worth discussing. Being famous online may attract attention, but attention isn't evidence. A viral video isn't proof, and a million likes don't replace the legal process. So what do you think? Have you ever seen a court case where social media seemed to influence the conversation, even if it wasn't supposed to influence a judge? I have a case for defamation and slander by a local realtor who accuses me of things I have not done. She has a total of 1,500,000 views of defamation against me. Me, I have a few followers and views but have not tried to get a lot at this time. Now I wonder if the number of likes and views influence a judge? Well, they want to rule in favor of the popular person, especially if they are voted in. What a nightmare. But I would love to hear what you think, your comments. Share your thoughts and have a great day.